Chapter 1: The Incitement of the Drizzle
The rumble of rain filled the late afternoon at a cold drink stall. A young girl sat staring at the pouring rain that was gradually slowing down. In the distance, the silhouette of a tall man appeared. He was hurriedly parking his motorcycle, seeking shelter at the stall.
"Welcome! Please have a seat and take your time choosing your order," greeted the stall keeper warmly.
"An iced tea, please," he replied.
"Sure, please wait a moment. Before that, feel free to wipe your wet hair with these tissues. Don't worry, they're clean!" the keeper said with a friendly smile.
The man smiled faintly at her suggestion. His eyes remained fixed on the warm, welcoming woman in front of him.
"Here is your drink," she said.
"How much is it?" he asked.
"Eight thousand, please," she answered politely.
After handing over the money, the man rushed out while putting on the raincoat he had taken from his motorcycle seat.
"Wow, what a unique human being. He actually brought a raincoat but chose to get soaked instead! Ah... how fascinating," the girl muttered to herself.
In the distance, the man glanced at his rearview mirror.
"What an intriguing iced tea seller," he thought to himself.
The sweet girl, named Monica Antiquini, then turned her focus back to one of her customers who appeared to be restless.
"Here is your order, dear!" Monica said.
"Sist, I need someone to talk to," the customer pleaded.Monica pulled up another chair.
She slowly rested her chin on her interlocked hands, ready to listen to the customer's story.
"I’m currently torn between a complicated romantic choice. On one hand, there's Riki, who is always good to me. But on the other hand, there's Bisma, who constantly asks me out to hang out and go for walks," she began her story.
"Then which feeling is stronger in your heart?" Monica asked.
"I don't know, I'm confused too. What do you think about the two of them, Sist? " the customer asked back.
"Personally, I think Bisma is arrogant and does whatever he pleases, and I dislike that kind of attitude. Meanwhile, Riki is the type of man who feels that one woman is never enough. The ultimate conclusion is that they are exactly the same," Monica answered.
"But I’m truly at a loss trying to choose between these two men!" she said, smiling as if she were frustrated, though she actually seemed to enjoy it.
Monica offered a cynical smile. "Deep down, you love Riki. It shows in the way you tell your story!"
The girl in front of her gasped in surprise at Monica’s words. "How can you come to that conclusion, Sist?"
"Just answer my question for now: what kind of men are Riki and Bisma?" Monica probed deeper, analyzing further.
"Riki is a good figure who is always there to accompany me. In short, he always makes me happy! While Mas Bisma, well, we just often go out to hang out together," she answered.
"Rita, you love Riki, and you are only using Bisma as an escape! You don't truly love Bisma," Monica stated, delivering her conclusion.
The girl, called Rita, looked shocked for the umpteenth time upon hearing Monica's words, which were far too honest and hit right home.
"Have I really been unaware this whole time that I like Riki?" Rita kept asking, her questions filled with denial.
"On the contrary, you are very much aware! That is precisely why you made Bisma your escape," the bespectacled girl replied calmly.
"Then what should I do, Sist?" Rita pressed on.
"Be with Riki, because you and Bisma will never end up well. Believe me, your love belongs to Riki, even though Bisma might seem like he adores you. But your heart has already fallen into Riki’s arms," she replied with heavy emphasis.
Rita rubbed her face harshly, while Monica slowly closed her eyes, holding back the surge of the mental game playing out before her.
"Do you mean I have to forget Bisma and choose to be with Riki? But Riki is currently close with Putri!" Rita questioned again with all the denial she possessed.
"Let me explain it to you simply. Imagine you have a garden of beautiful roses that are blooming perfectly. Then, Putri comes to you intending to ask for a bouquet of those roses. Would you give them to her?" Monica asked with full attention.
Rita smiled, holding back her expression as she pictured the scenario described by the beautiful woman in front of her. Her tongue tied, leaving her unable to answer.
"I will give you two answers. You are afraid of being labeled as mean if you don't give them to her. But if you do give those flowers away, you are letting your rose garden lose its beauty. It means you must choose: confess your love to Riki, or let him be taken by Putri," Monica explained.
Rita smiled meaningfully after hearing Monica's deeply profound explanation."I’m sure I won't be able to sleep tonight," Rita lamented.
Monica could no longer hold back her laughter. She laughed in complete triumph, having successfully disrupted the mind of the person before her.
"Ah, damn it! Just a moment," Monica said, taking a deep breath while closing her eyes.
The moment her eyes fluttered open, the brown eyes behind her glasses stared sharply at Rita.
"Contemplate everything. In time, you will find the answer yourself!" Monica said.
"Alright, thank you so much, Sist!" Rita said.
The rain began to subside, and Rita bid her farewell. Meanwhile, Monica watched her departure with absolute certainty that Rita would never dare to take a firm stand.
